'The Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation, jointly with Russia 's Interior Ministry… conducted manhunt and investigative activities in the Moscow region to stop illegal activities of six members of an organized, deeply secret cell of the Islamic State international terrorist organization,' it said, adding that the detained militants planned to carry out terror attacks in Moscow using firearms and improvised explosive devices, according to Sputnik news agency.

'The terrorist cell was managed by emissaries in the Syrian Arab Republic — natives of the Central Asian region,' the FSB said.